Seventies folk-rock from Newcastle
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Formed in 1967 and originally named the Downtown Faction (a name that didn't last very long), Lindisfarne built their reputation at colleges and festivals before recording their first album. Alan Hull (guitar, vocals), Rod Clements (bass, violin), Ray Jackson (mandolin), Simon Cowe (guitar) and Ray Laidlaw (drums) were the members of the group, which took its name from an island off the Northumbrian coast.
Good-time folk-rock music was their trademark. The original group recorded three albums for Chrysalis. Their first album (Nicely out of tune) is considered by many to be their finest work although their second (Fog on the Tyne) established their popularity, going to number one on the UK album charts. Their third album (Dingly Dell) has some good moments but is weaker than the earlier albums. That album and a subsequent unsuccessful American tour created tensions that caused the group to split. Three members left to form their own group (Jack the Lad) while the remaining two members retained the name Lindisfarne and recruited replacements although this group disband after one album (Happy daze). In 1978, the five original members re-united and recorded an album (Back and Fourth) on a different label. .Although it was an encouraging comeback, it was their last great album.
Their run of hit singles began with two UK top five hits (Meet me on the corner, Lady Eleanor) and a minor UK hit (All fall down) in 1972, but they didn't return to the charts until their 1978 comeback, at which point Run for home made the UK top ten, also becoming their only American top forty hit, and Juke box gypsy became a minor UK hit. They have returned to the UK charts just once since then, having their biggest hit (number two) when they backed Gazza (a Newcastle-born footballer) on a new version of Fog on the Tyne. This recording is not featured in this compilation but the original version of the song (curiously, never released as a single) is included.
This compilation contains a selection of their best music including all their seventies hits together with their best album tracks. If you enjoy folk-rock music of the sixties and seventies, the music of Lindisfarne will surely appeal to you."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1